Metering pump having an integrated overflow valve, and valve insert for a metering pump

ABSTRACT

An overflow valve is built into a metering head for a metering pump used with aggressive media and under high pressure. The overflow valve follows the suction valve or expands it, and directly lowers a critical pressure that occurs in the metering head, using an overflow line. In this way, the safety of the arrangement is improved, and at the same time, less construction space is used up by the additional valve.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and Applicant claims priority under35 U.S.C. §§ 120 and 121 of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/720,107 filedon Dec. 19, 2019, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Application No. 10 2018 133 214.9 filed Dec. 20, 2018 andGerman Application No. 20 2019 104 111.0 filed Jul. 25, 2019, thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference. Certified copies ofpriority German Patent Application Nos. 10 2018 133 214.9 and 20 2019104 111.0 are contained in parent U.S. application Ser. No. 16/720,107.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a metering pump having a metering head,which is closed off with a suction valve on the suction side and with apressure valve on the pressure side, wherein a membrane is arranged foralternating generation of a partial vacuum and of an excess pressure inthe metering head. The present invention also relates to a valve insertfor such a metering pump.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such metering pumps have already represented the standard state of theart for a long time. They are always preferably used when aggressivechemicals are supposed to be metered in leakage-free manner, when greatrepeat accuracy is required, and when pumping must take place againsthigh pressures. Due to the aggressiveness of the chemicals that aremetered at high pressures, suitable safety equipment is being requiredmore and more frequently, so as to avoid critical excess pressures thatoccur in the system. In this regard, the safety equipment has the taskof either monitoring the pressure or reducing the pressure when apressure limit value has been reached.

Pressure monitoring can take place, in particular, using a pressuresensor installed into the metering head, the suction line, or thepressure line or directly into the process that follows the meteringpump. In this regard, sensors and, in addition, evaluation electronicsare required. The evaluation electronics can be included in a pumphousing or in a remote control cabinet, together with a processcontroller. In each case, however, they must be data-connected with thesensors and must control the pump as a function of the sensor values.This type of monitoring is very expensive and requires a high level ofinstallation effort.

In contrast, mechanical pressure limiting can be implemented using anoverflow valve. In this regard, an additional valve is installed on themetering head or in the pressure line. A spring in the interior of thevalve can be biased by way of a setting screw, and the operatingpressure and a pressure limit value can be set using this screw. Thespring force therefore corresponds to the opening pressure.

In the normal state, medium conveyed by the metering pump then flowsthrough the valve. If the pressure at the valve now increases, in otherwords in the pressure line or in the metering head, a membrane opens anoverflow channel, which guides the medium back into a medium containeror into a separate collection container. If the pressure then dropsagain, the membrane closes the overflow channel again and the mediumflows in the direction of the process once again. This solution,however, also provides that very great pressure occurs at first in themetering head or already in the pressure line. Aside from the increasedwear that occurs as a result, placement of an additional fitting blockhaving the said overflow valve requires additional construction spaceand additional lines to the fitting block and away from it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, it is the object of the present invention toprovide a solution that avoids excess pressure in the pressure line andallows any critical excess pressures that occur to be relieved directlyat or in the metering head.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of a metering pump inaccordance with the characteristics of one aspect of the invention, aswell as by means of a valve insert for a metering pump in accordancewith another aspect of the invention. Further practical embodiments ofthe metering pump can be derived from the disclosure below.

According to the invention, it is provided that an overflow valve isassigned to a metering pump in the region of its metering head, inaddition to the suction valve and pressure valve required for properfunctioning, by way of which overflow valve a critical excess pressurein the metering head can be relieved. If an upper pressure limit valueis reached in the metering head, means for opening an overflow linetrigger and open an access to this overflow line, which line leads outof the metering head. As a result, the pressure in the metering headdrops below the upper pressure limit value subsequent to opening of theoverflow line, and damage to the metering pump can be prevented in thismanner.

In a variant of the invention, the overflow valve can be situatedbetween suction valve and pressure valve, in concrete terms.

This variant is particularly advantageous because by means of thisarrangement, the pressure can be lowered again directly at the locationwhere it occurs, while in the case of the known state of the art, thepressure can be relieved only in a separate fitting block. In the caseof the known state of the art, the pressure therefore remains in themetering head, and in spite of the relief in the pressure line, theexcess pressure conditions in the metering head still occur.

The overflow line in turn can preferably be connected with or identicalwith the suction line on the side that faces away from the meteringhead, which line feeds the metering head, so that the medium neverleaves the conveying circuit. Alternatively, however, the overflow linecan also be connected with a container, for example an overflowcontainer, or can lead directly back into the media container connectedwith the suction line.

If the overflow line is identical with the suction line, it can beparticularly advantageous if the suction valve is actually formed in astructural unit with the overflow valve. In such a case, the suctionvalve can share a shut-off body, preferably a ball, with the overflowvalve, so that this ball can leave its valve seat and thereby theshut-off position in both directions, in other words the suctiondirection and the pressure direction, going into a release position. Inthe pressure direction, the ball can escape as in the case of aconventional pressure valve, and in the case of a partial vacuum in themetering head, the ball can allow medium to enter into the metering headfrom the suction line, releasing the passage opening. In contrast, ifthe pressure increases in the pressure line, and as a result also in themetering head, the ball will return to the valve seat again. In theopposite direction, the ball is prevented from escaping out of itsshut-off position by means of a pressure spring. In contrast, if thepressure in the metering head increases above a pressure limit value,the pressure spring allows escape of the ball also in the suctiondirection. Thereby, medium can be brought out of the metering head backinto the suction line once again.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the overflow valve isarranged in the immediate vicinity of the suction valve. When medium isconveyed out of the metering head, the suction valve, for example in theform of a ball valve, is closed in any case, so that during the courseof this resetting movement, the mechanics of an overflow valve can alsobe arranged. In this case, the overflow valve must be placed behind thesuction valve in the conveying direction, so that after the suctionvalve closes, it is still exposed to the pressure in the metering head.If the overflow line is then opened, which line opens into a housingwall adjacent to the overflow valve, the overflowing medium can bepassed out of the metering head by way of the overflow line.

In this configuration, the overflow valve can furthermore separate thesuction valve from the interior of the metering head, so thatconsequently, a passage opening must be assigned to the overflow valve,through which opening the medium can be conveyed when medium is drawnin.

In a specific embodiment of the overflow valve, it can be structured asa plate valve, wherein the valve plate having the said passage openingis arranged in the path between the suction valve and the meteringchamber of the metering head. An edge bulge of the valve plate thenblocks access to the overflow line as long as the valve plate remains inits shut-off position. The valve plate is displaced from this shut-offposition, into a release position, counter to the force of a pressurespring, only if the pressure in the metering head exceeds the upperpressure limit value. For this case, the passage opening of the platevalve can also have a kickback valve, so as to be able to build updifferent pressure potentials on both sides of the valve plate.

Furthermore, to influence the upper pressure limit value, it can bepossible, to some advantage, to influence the pressure spring usingsetting means, preferably from outside of the metering head, so that thespring constant can be changed using the setting means. In this way, itis possible to adjust both the pressure to be set as the upper pressurelimit value and the pressure at which the overflow valve opens up theaccess to the overflow line.

The overflow line in turn is preferably connected with the suction lineon the side facing away from the metering head, which line feeds themetering head, so that the medium never even leaves the conveyingcircuit. Alternatively, however, the overflow line can also be connectedwith a container, for example an overflow container, or directly backinto the media container connected with the suction line.

To particular advantage, the suction valve can be assigned to themetering head, in the form of a valve insert, as a whole, for example byway of a screw connection. In this case, the overflow valve can also beassigned to this valve insert, so that the valve insert holds both thesuction valve and the overflow valve that is preferably connected withit. In this way, it is possible to retrofit the overflow valve intoexisting metering pumps, without problems, without having to undertakegreater structural changes in the metering pump.

Such an adapted valve insert with an overflow valve having all thecharacteristics described above is also explicitly an object of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows the suction side of the metering head of a metering pump,having a suction valve according to the known state of the art, in across-sectional representation;

FIG. 2 shows the suction side of the metering head of a metering pumpaccording to the invention, having a valve insert with an overflowvalve, in a cross-sectional representation; and

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the suction side of the metering headaccording to FIG. 2, having a valve insert with an overflow valve, in across-sectional representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a metering head 2 of a metering pump 1 as they are known inthe state of the art. What is shown is a detail of the suction side ofthe metering head 2, which has a valve insert 11 that is connected withthe metering head 2 by way of a screw connection.

Medium is drawn in from a media container into the metering head 2,using a membrane, by way of a suction line not shown here, wherein thevalve insert 11 has a suction valve 3 here, structured as a two-stageball valve. The partial vacuum that prevails in the metering head 2 andis generated by means of the membrane not shown here, opens the ballvalves that are switched in series one behind the other, and allows themedium that is drawn in to flow into the metering head 2. Then themembrane will increase the pressure in the metering head 2 again afteran end position is reached, and thereby the ball valves close and themedium is conveyed out by way of a pressure valve arranged in thepressure side, analogously but in the opposite direction.

If the pressure in the pressure line becomes too great, an overflowvalve that might be used there will trigger and ensure lowering of thepressure in the pressure line. In contrast, an overly high pressureremains in effect in the metering head 2 in such a case.

FIG. 2 shows the solution according to the invention, whichdistinguishes itself from the state of the art by means of the valveinsert 11 that is used. In this regard, the valve insert 11 has asuction valve 3 and an overflow valve 4 assigned to the suction valve 3in structurally unified manner, which valves have a ball 6 as a commonshut-off body. This ball 6 lies in its valve seat 8 in a pressure-freesituation, and thereby blocks the passage opening 7. During operation ofthe metering pump 1, in the case of a dropping pressure in the meteringhead 2, the ball is moved out of the valve seat 8 into a releaseposition in the pressure direction, and medium is drawn into themetering head 2 due to the partial vacuum that occurs in it. When thepressure increases again during normal operation, then the ball 6 movesback into the valve seat 8. Due to a pressure spring 10, it does notleave the valve seat 8 in the suction direction, but rather is held inthe shut-off position.

If, instead, the pressure continues to increase in the pressure line,and consequently also in the metering head 2, then if a pressure limitvalue is reached and exceeded, the ball 6 is pressed against thepressure spring 10 at a pressure that ensures escape in the suctiondirection, in other words toward the suction line. Medium from themetering head 2 can flow out into the suction line through the passageopening that has become free as a result, so that an overly highpressure in the metering head 2 can be prevented.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the solution according to theinvention, which distinguishes itself from the state of the art by meansof the valve insert 11 that is used. The valve insert 11 furthermore hasa two-stage valve, wherein, however, only the valve stage that is firstin the flow direction, in other words the one that lies on the outside,is structured as a suction valve 3, here in the form of a ball valve.The valve stage that lies on the inside is structured as an overflowvalve 4, and in a shut-off position closes off an overflow line 5, theaccess 12 of which is accessible for medium contained in the meteringhead 2 in the release position shown.

The overflow valve 4 is structured as a plate valve, the valve plate 13of which has a central passage opening, through which the medium comingfrom the suction valve can be conveyed in the shut-off position, butwhich in turn can be provided with a kickback valve in a manner notshown here. If a pressure builds up in the metering head 2, whichpressure reaches an upper pressure limit value, then not only does thesuction valve 3 close, but rather the overflow valve 4 opens up theoverflow line 5. For this purpose, the valve plate 13 is displaced intothe release position counter to the force of the pressure spring 10,which determines the upper pressure limit value, due to the pressure inthe metering head 2. In this regard, an edge bulge 9 of the valve plate13, which had blocked the access 12 to the overflow line 5 until then,moves away from the access 12, and the medium can be guided, in additionto the pressure valve, also out of the metering head 2 by way of theoverflow line, for example back into the suction line or the mediacontainer, so that the pressure in the metering head can be relievedagain.

What has been described above is therefore a metering pump in which anexcess pressure in the pressure line is prevented and any criticalexcess pressures that occur can be relieved directly at or in themetering head. These results are achieved by means of an overflow valvethat directly precedes or follows the suction valve, which overflowvalve guides medium directly out of the metering head when a pressurelimit value is reached, and thereby directly lowers the pressure belowthe pressure limit value again.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A metering pump comprising: (a) a suction valve;(b) a pressure valve; (c) a metering head having a suction side and apressure side, wherein the metering head is closed off with the suctionvalve on the suction side and with the pressure valve on the pressureside; (d) a membrane arranged for alternating generation of a partialvacuum and of an excess pressure in the metering head; (e) an overflowline leading out of the metering head; and (f) an overflow valveassociated with the metering head and arranged between the suction valveand the pressure valve, wherein the overflow valve opens up the overflowline leading out of the metering head when an upper pressure limit valueis reached in the metering head.
 2. The metering pump according to claim1, wherein the overflow valve directly follows the suction valve in aconveying direction, wherein an access to the overflow line isassociated with a housing wall adjacent to the overflow valve.
 3. Themetering pump according to claim 2, wherein the overflow valve separatesthe suction valve from an interior of the metering head, but has apassage opening for medium drawn in through the suction valve.
 4. Themetering pump according to claim 3, wherein the overflow valve isstructured as a plate valve, wherein a valve plate is displaceablebetween a shut-off position and a release position counter to a pressurespring, and has an edge bulge that faces away from the suction valve,and closes off inflow to the overflow line in the shut-off position andopens the inflow up in the release position.
 5. A valve insert for ametering pump comprising: (a) a suction valve; and (b) an overflow valvedirectly following the suction valve in a conveying direction; whereinthe overflow valve is displaceable between a shut-off position and arelease position; wherein in the shut-off position, the overflow valvecloses off inflow to an overflow line leading out of the valve insert;and wherein in the release position, the overflow valve opens up theinflow.
 6. The valve insert according to claim 5, wherein the overflowvalve is structured as a plate valve, wherein a valve plate that has apassage opening for medium drawn in through the suction valve isdisplaceable counter to a pressure spring, and has an edge bulge forclosure of the overflow line facing away from the suction valve.